Hedges - Print version

There are a wide variety of hawthorn, beech, holly and privet hedges in Coventry that we own and maintain.

We will cut hedges on all Council-owned land, which includes:

• Highways
• Verges
• Public open space
• Parks
• Memorial gardens

If privately maintained hedges are allowed to become overgrown and an obstruction to the public footpath, a driver's vision, or light from a streetlight, we may cut them back. Before this happens a notice is served to the hedge owner asking them to carry out pruning.  If the owner does not take action, we will cut back the hedge and may send the owners a bill for the costs.

We do not cut hedges that are:

• Privately owned, unless it is looked after by us under a private contract agreement or is allowed to become overgrown and an obstruction to the public footpath, a driver's vision, or light from a streetlight.
• Country hedges, where birds may be nesting.

When we cut hedges

• Field hedges are cut with tractor mounted flail cutters. Flailing can produce a more uneven cut to the hedge but this is not a problem as there will soon be new growth. No cutting takes place during the spring and early summer to protect birds that nest in hedges. Once the hedge cutting programme begins we will cut all the field hedges during the remainder of the year. The cuttings are not collected as they provide refuge for small animals and limit weed growth.
• Ornamental (urban/amenity) hedges are maintained twice a year using mechanical hand held hedge cutters. The first cut is usually carried out during June/July and the second in October/November. The cuttings are collected and disposed of at an approved tip.

We aim to

• Cut ornamental hedges twice a year, during June/July and October/November.
• Cut field hedges once a year.
• Clear obstructions within five working days if on public land (depending on time of year - bird nesting season is estimated to be between 1 March to 31 July - generally no hedge cutting is done during this period)

Please help us by

• Not dropping litter or flytipping
• Maintaining any hedges which may cause an obstruction to the public footpath, a driver's vision, or light from a street light
• Reporting any hedges which may cause an obstruction to the public footpath, a driver's vision, or light from a street light